System of electrical generation and control



C. F. KETTERING.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND CONTROL.

APPUCKIION mw use. as. 1916.

Patented May 4, 1920.

UNITED STAIEQPATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES F. KETTERING, OF DAYTON. OHIO. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS. TO THE DELCQ-LIGHT COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SYSTEH OF ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND CONTROL.

Specification 01 Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed December 18, 1916. Serial No. 137,594.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. Ks'rrrnwe, a citizen ofthe United States of America,'residing at city of Dayton, county of Mont omery, and State of Ohio, have nvented certain new and useful Improrements in Systems of Electrical Generation and Control, of which the following IS a full, clear, and exact description.

'lhepresent invention relates to an [[11- provement in electrical systems, and more particularly'to that type whereln the electric machine is driven as a generator by an engine, to furnish current for charging and other purposes, and the engine is cranked 'by the electric machine operating as a motor for startinglpurposes.

One'of the objects of the present inven- 'tion is to provide protecting devices which will prevent the operation-of the electric machme as a motor when the lubricant suply 0f the engine reaches a redetcrmlned ow point, and thereby 'wil prevent the cranking of the engine by the electric machine until said lubricant supply 15 replen i'shed.

' Rererri to the drawing wherein one proferred fiirm of the present invention 15 clearly illustrated, the view, partly diagrammatic and partly structural, the numetal 20 designates an electric machine .50 arranged in connection with circuit makand breakin, devices, that when the" -lu ricant supply within the crankcase which 'is so constructed thatlit can operate as an electric motor or as a generator. T his machine is connected to the engine 21, preferably of the combustion or explosion type, which includes an ignition system COIHPII'IS- ing the timer 22, coil 23, and the spark he engine 21 is provided with a crankcase 25, which has a chamber 26 associated therewith. A float element 27, fulcrumed at the point 28 is included within the crankcase 25, and is provided with an arm 29, which cooperates with a painof levers 30 and 31, the latter of which p'ro ects through the screw cap on the chamber 26, and is reaches a predetermined low point, certain electrical connections will be made and broken for the purpose described here-mafter.

The construction of the engine 2l and the dynamoselexrtric-machme 20 18 substan tiall the same as that disclosed in the copenning a Jplications of Charles F. Kettering and l'illium A. Chryst, Serial No. 58,207, tiled October 27, 1915, and Ernest, Dickey, Serial No. 119,888, filed September 13, 1916, and therefore the detailed structure of these units will not be further described in connection with the present application.

The electric machine 20 is electrically connected with the storage battery'ilz, which receives current from the electric machine when the same is operating as a generator, and which will, under certain conditions, as will be clearl explained hereh1after,discharge current l iack from the electric machine to operate thesame as a motor for starting purposes.

' The system as shown in the present a I plicution is of the automatictype; that is, the operation of the engine and consequently the operation of e electric machine is efiectcd autoina ically, in accordance with the condition of charge of the storage battery, and this automatic operation of theelectric machine will be continuously carried out except at such times as the lubricant level in the crankcase 25 reuchesa predetermined low point.

It will be understood that if the lubricant in the crankcase 25 reaches such a low point that the different elements within the crankcase are not etfectually lubricated, and the charge of the batteries is such that the automatic starting would normally be brought into effect, mechanism is actuated by the float element contained within the crankcase to (prevent any discharge from the battery an thereby to prevent the starting of the engine, due to the operation of the electric machine as a motor. However, if the cranking operation .was allowed to continue, and the engine when started, would be allowed to operate with the lubricant supply low, certain parts of the engine trical measuring to such a position that the hand engage with the contact plate 35 and force the same in contact with the plate 36. will close the following circuit:

From the' positive terminal 37 of the hattery 32, through a conductor 38, branch conductor 39, to the solenoid coil 40, thence through conductor 41, and providing the c .inkcase 25 has a sullicient supply of lubricant to maintain the contartuctuatiug arms 30 and 31 in the position shown in the diagrammatic fi ure, through the conductor plates 42 and 43, through conductor -14, across the contacts 35 and 36, thence back to the negative side of the battery via the conductor 45. The closing of this circuit will tend to energize the solenoid coil 40 and thereby efiect a movement of the solenoid plunger 46 in a downward direction in the figure, so as to actuate the lever 47. This lever 47 will tend toclose the followi circuit: y rom the positive side 37 of the battery 32, through..the conductor 38, brunch connection 73, lever 47,1:ontacts 72 and 71, ries winding 70,- oonductor 49, across the contact lpllates 50 and 51, throu h conductor 52, to t eterminal 53 of the trio-machine 20. The current will flow through the field and-armature connections of the electric machine in substantially the same manner as'that described. in the aforementioned co-pending applications, and thence thro h conductor 54, to the terminal 55 of t e electrical measuring instrument 33 thence across said instrument to the terminal 56, and back to the battery via the eonductorfiz'w. Atthe same time the fol lowing ignition circuit will'be closed From the conductor 38, through the branch conductor 60, to the coil 23. thence to the timer 22, through conductor Gl, a cross the contacts 62 and 63, which are associated with the electrical measuring instrument H in a. manner to be described hereinafter to the conductor 45 via the branch wire (H, and thence back tothe negative side of the battery.

liow, as soon as the above-mentioned circuits are completed, the electric machine will tend to operate as a motor and will cranltthe engine 21, and thereby bring the same into self-operation.

As soon as the engine has become selfuctuating, it will speed up and will then drive the electric machine 20 as a generator. The out ut of the generator will tend to oppose t e current flowing from the battery 32, and will energize the winding Til of the controller switch 48 in such a manner as to maintain the lever 47 in attracted position This ynamo-eleeand the contacts Tl and 72 closed. A more detailed description of the switch 48 will he found in the co-pending applications rcferred to.

Now. as soon as the electric machine tends to charge the storage batteries, the current flowing through the electrical measuring instrument 33, will cause the hand 34 of said instrlpnent to more in the direction ofthe dotted arrow shown in the drawing of said 75 instrument, until said hand engages with the contact plnte (S3 and forces the same out of contact making position with the plate "-3. v This operation will only take place at surly times asthe battery has reached a-pre-' so den-unlined condition; that is. a substan tially saturatetLcondition.

'lhe'result of opening the contacts 62 and v 63 will he to break the ignition circuit, which will of course resultin bringing the. engin to a stop, and also causing the electric machine to be brought to a stop.

As soon as the: electric machine slows down, the voltage through the aforemen-- tinned char ing circuit will drop below the voltage of t 1e storage batteries 32 and cause the current from the storage batteries to t to flow back through the electric machine an operate the same as a motor. Thiswillbe prevented, however, by: means of -the 'controller switch 48, whichlas has been described in the co-pending ap lications mentioned heretofore, is provided with a reverse current winding which will tend to open the main circuit through 131'. lectric machine and thereby prevent the discharge of the storage batteries. y v

Supposing, however, that the batteries become discharged and that, the supply of lubrietrnt in the crankcase 25 reaches a 'p re- 106 determined low point; that 'is, reaches such a point that the floatfli will be in such a positionthat the arms' 29, 30 and 31 will be raised to affect the contact plates 51 0,116.43.

Due to the position of the arm-340i the 110- electrical measuring tact plates 35 and 36 nstrument 33, the conwill be closed, but cur rent will be prevented from flow ng from v gh the solenoid coil 4:0,and the conductors 4:1 and 44, by the separation of the contact plates 42nd 43, through the adjustnbhelement on the lever" 31, controlled by the flout element in the'crankcase This will prevent the operation of the electric machine as a motor to crank the engine,

due to the fact ,thatno current is flowing through the solenoid 40, and the controller switch will therefore remain in contact breaking position.

it is. however, possible to manually operutc the lever 47. in which case the current would fiow from thoibattery through the necessary circuits to the electric machine and operate it a a motor. when the lubricant in the cran case is low. In order to safe operation of the en ine 21, and a signaling device, shown in t e present instance as including a ball 65, is therefore provided which is located in a local circuit includin batteries 66 and the contact points 67 and 68. This indicating device or signal 65 will therefore be brought into operation by the closing of the contacts 67 and 68, which is efl'ected by the operation of the lever 31 engaging with the contact plate 43; As soon as the operator replenishes the crankcase 25 with a suliicient quantity of lubricant, the float 27 will rise do such a position'that the levers 29, 30 and 31 will be retractedinto substantially the position shown in the diagrammatic figure, and thereby permit the contact plates 43 and 51 to assume their normal relative positions, and also to break the electrical circuit through the indicating device to permit'the contact points 67 and 68 to separate.

A lighting circuit or any work circuit is shown as being tapped oil of the main lines 54 and 38.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described. constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith an engine and lubricant supply provisions therefor; of an electric starting device therefor. operable as a motor for starting purposes: a storage buttery electrically connected with said starting device: and means for breaking the electrical connections between the battery and the starting device, when the lubricant sup ply reaches a predetermined low point. thereby entirely prercnting'thc operation of the starting device as a motor for starting purposes, said means including a normally closed switch connected directly in the circuit between the starting device and battery, and means controlled by tlulubricant level for opening said switch.

'2. 'ln :1 dericc of thc clmruclcr rlcscribcil.

tlucombination with an engiuc and lubricant supply provisions thcrcl'or; of a dynamo-electric-machine connected thereto; an

electric storage battery electrically connected to the dynamo-electric-machine; means responsive to the condition of charge of said battery to automatically stop and start said engine; and means for entirely preventing the operation of the dynamoelectric-niachine as a motor to start the engine-when' the lubricant su )ply reaches a predetermined low point, sai means including a normally closed switch connected directly in the circuit between the dynamo and the battery and means controlled b the inbricant level for'opening said switc In a device of the character'described, the combination with an engine and lubricant supply provisions'therefor; of a dynamo-electric-machine operable as a starting device for the engine; a storage battery; it

circuit controller for contr'ollmg'the electrical connections between the battery and the dynamo, said controller being capable of manual operation to start the engine; automatic means for operating the controller 'when the battery discharge reaches a predetermined low point, whereby to start the engine; and means controlled by the level of the lubricant forrendering the automatic means inoperative to operate the controller, and for directly interrupting the circuit between the dynamo and t e battle whereby manual operation o'fthe control or will .inefl'ective. l

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with an engine and lubricant supply provisions thereforrof a dynamo-electric-machine operable as a starting device for the en ine; a storage battery; a circuit controller or controlling the electrical connections between the battery and the dynamc said controller being capable of manual operation; automatic means foropcrating said controller including an electro- 'magnet ,for actuating the controller, a switch for controllin the ma net and means for operating sair switch w en the batte discharge has reached a predetermine low point; and means controlled by the lubricant level for directly interru )ting the circuit betwecn the dynamo and the battery, whereby manual operation of the controller will be ineffective. and for rendering said automatic means inoperative to operate the controller, said lubricant level control means including a normally closed switch in the magnet circuit and provisions coiiperating therewith for opening said switch when the lubricant level has reached a predetermined low point.

In a device of the character described, tho combination with an enginc and lubriunl supply.provisious therefor: of u dyiminn-electricmuchine operable as a starting dcrice for the engine: a storage battery; means for controlling the electrical connections between the dynamo and thc cngiuc including a switch connected directly in said connections; and means controlled by the lnbricantdcvel for directly operating upon said switch to prevent starting the. engine when the lubricant level has reached a predetermined low point.

6. In a device of the character described. the combination with an engine and lubricant supply provisions therefor; of a dynamo-clectric-machinc operable as a starting device for the engine; a storage battery; means for controlling the electrical connections between the dynamo and the engine including a switch connected directly in said connections; electrical signaling provisions having a switch in circuit therewith; -and means controlled by the lubricant level for directly operating both of said switches to prevent starting the engine when the lubricant level has reached the predetermined low ipoint, and to indicate this condition of the lubricant level.

7. In adevicc of the character described. the combination with an engine and lubri cant supply provisions therefor; of a dycircuit controller for controlling the electrical connections between the battery and dynamo, said controller being capable of 1 manual operation to start the engine; a switch directly in circuit with the controller and battery; automatic means for operating the controller when the battery discharge reaches a predetermined low point, said antomatic means including aswitch in circuit therewith; electrical signaling provisions having a switch in circuit therewith; and means controlled by the lubricant level for directly operating all of said switches whereby to prevent manual or automatic startiiw of the-engine when the lubricant has reached a predetermined low level and to indicate this condition of-th' lubricant level.

In testimony whereof I 'afiix my signature in the presence of two subscribin" witnesses.

CHARLES r. KETTERING. Witnesses:

VVAL'rnn W. Remap, J. W. McDoNAnn. 

